Tips for successful course completion

• Start, shut down, and reboot a computer appropriately.
  
• Use a keyboard and mouse gracefully.
  
• Use his or her Internet Service Provider or otherwise gain access to the Internet.
  
• Access URLs (addresses) on the Internet.
  
• Use online search tools to locate materials on the web.
  
• Navigate forward and backward on web sites with links, frames, imagemaps, and other elements.
  
• Troubleshoot a URL or link that is not working.
  
• Recognize when a "plug-in" is needed to view a particular web page.
  
• Print pages in the programs he or she uses, especially web browsers.
  
• Send, receive, reply to, and forward email.
  
• Send and receive email attachments.
  
• Use a word processor.
  
• Copy and paste text across documents and software applications.
  
• Save a document or other file to a particular location.
  
• Find a file or document previously saved.

• know how to work with others to complete group projects timely and responsibly

• are self-starters and self-motivators

• are well organized and know how to manage their time

• are confident in their academic abilities

• are self disciplined and goal directed

• have good study habits

• can read well

• can follow written directions

• can prepare for, study for, and ably complete both objective and subjective tests

• can take notes well, whether from "online" lectures, textbooks, or other resources

• don't mind telephoning or e-mailing their instructors with questions or concerns about a course

• are capable of independent learning

• know that they, ultimately, are responsible for their own education

• prefer to get things done today and not put them off until tomorrow

• don't give up easily, even when the going gets tough

• can communicate effectively through writing

• are willing and able to commit at least 2 hours each week for every credit hour taken.

1. Check the course site regularly.
   Even if you don't have specific assignments to complete, check the course site and your email regularly. 
   
   
2. Plan on spending at least two hours of work time for every credit hour that the course receives.
   As a rule of thumb, colleges assume that you will attend as many hours as are listed in the credit hours, then do homework and prepare in an equivalent number of hours during each week. In an online course, the distinction between attendance and study hours is removed, but the same minimum amount of time is necessary. In actual practice, some courses take many more hours of study.
   
   
3. Your instructor can tell if you are visiting the course site, but doesn't demonstrate your comprehension of the material.
   There are tools in Moodle that allow your instructor to get general statistics about how often you visit the course site. But statistical tools in Moodle won't let your instructor know if you understand what you read, if you enjoy or dislike aspects of the course, or if you are succeeding. That is up to you. Your assignments, postings, and instructor communication will help demonstrate the quality of your work.
   
   
4. You are expected to communicate with both the instructor and your classmates.
   Don't wait to be asked to communicate. Send your instructor questions. Post messages to other students. Ask questions and share your ideas.
   
   
5. Let your instructor know if you will be away.
   Just as if you could not attend a face-to-face course, you should let your instructor know if you will not access the online course for several days. Your instructor can remind you of deadlines you might miss or changes that might occur in the course while you are gone.

An online course requires special discipline. Here are some suggestions:

1. Don't procrastinate.
   Students who fail in online courses almost always let themselves get behind. As a semester progresses, they get buried deeper and deeper. In the end, they take shortcuts to finish or don't finish at all. By keeping up from the start, you'll find a rhythm of work and sail smoothly through! Develop a habit of reviewing your weekly assignment summary the first day it is released so you know what is required.
   
   
2. Develop a regular schedule.
   Online learning can happen at any time and from many different places. That doesn't mean, however, that you have to take the course at any time of day. You'll do better if you set aside a block of regular time to get work done. Guard this time against interruptions just as you would guard the time to attend a face-to-face course.
   
   
3. Print the course calendar and any other course schedules.
   Put the important dates in your day planner or hang them next to the area where you typically work on the course. Print other important course references and keep those handy as well. Keep an eye on which assignments are coming up and when you'll be moving on to the next section. While assignments may appear on the course calendar in Moodle, DO NOT depend entirely on the calendar for your weekly assignments. Discussion Forums are often considered "assignments" and could be a large part of the course grade - however, dates for Forum submissions DO NOT appear in the course calendar. 
   
   
4. Start big assignments early.
   At the start of the course, determine which assignments are worth the most points or will take the most work. Set your schedule for these assignments, dividing the work into reasonable chunks. 
   
   
5. Complete assignments before the due date.
   This is one of the biggest secrets to success in online courses. By planning to finish early, you prevent any disasters due to technical problems at the last minute. You will win your instructor's favor because he or she can start correcting your work early instead of having to do it all in a day or two. As a result, you'll get more personal feedback (and maybe a chance to fix your work if there are problems.) In the case of interactive assignments like discussion forums, you'll get much more feedback than those who post at the last minute.
   
   
6. Speak up if you are having problems.
   You must be explicit with your questions and requests. If you are having technical difficulties, or problems understanding something about the course, assignment instructions, etc., you MUST speak up. If you don't understand something, chances are several people have the same question. If another student is able to help you, he/she probably will, and if you are able to explain something to your classmates in need, you will not only help them out, you will reinforce your own knowledge about the subject.  

To Prevent Problems:

• Make sure your computer meets the recommended computer settings:
• Do not run programs your computer can't handle. If you have to get help, knowing what kind of computer you have will help troubleshooters find solutions.
• Do not put assignments off until the last minute. A broken server or other technical problem is no big deal if you've left an extra day or two to finish the work.
  
• Save your work frequently, including copies of papers, assignments, important email messages, and anything else you wouldn't want to retype should an accident occur.
  
• Write down your passwords and save them somewhere private. The password that seems memorable today might not come to mind tomorrow.
  
• Scout an alternate source of Internet access in advance. This might be a school, public library, or a friend's home. There are so many sources of access that one broken computer is not a good excuse for failure to work on a course.
  
• Print contact information for your instructor, your Internet Service provider, and other sources of help. Having it on your computer is no good if the computer won't work!

When You Encounter Technical Difficulties:

1. Determine the scope of the problem. This takes practice, but it will do no good to complain to your instructor if the problem is with your home computer or your Internet Service Provider. Here are some ways to tell.
   
   1. If you can't get your computer to work at all or if your computer frequently freezes, but not at times that seem to have anything to do with each other, the problem may be with your own hardware or Local Area Network. Whoever maintains that network or computer will have to find a solution.
   2. If your computer works, but you can't get online, are frequently bumped offline, or have access problems at a particular time of day, the problem is probably with your Internet Service Provider. Call the provider's technical help resources.
   3. If you can get online, can visit other Internet sites, but can't get to the course site (or can't get the course site to display correctly), the problem could be many things, but may be a problem with the server that the course is on. Consult the instructor or the technical support staff at the college immediately. They can help you determine if the server is down.
2. Try these steps before asking for help:
   Write down the solutions to problems you encounter. They'll probably come up again and you may not remember how you fixed them. Learning to troubleshoot computers is a cumulative process.
   
   1. Save any work if applicable and possible.
   2. Write down what programs were open and what you were doing when the error occurred. Write down the exact text of any error messages.
   3. Reload (also called "refresh") the web page.
   4. Restart the web browser OR try a different web browser.
   5. Restart (also called "reboot") the computer.
   6. Make a short list of the things you've tried and the specifications of your computer. Call (or email if you can) for help.
3. Inform the instructor of problems or mistakes in the course site such as broken links. He or she can't fix the problems if no one lets him or her know the problems are there.
   
4. Let your instructor know if technical difficulties will prevent you from completing work. He or she might be able to help you find a place to work, solve your problem, or find an alternative.
   
5. Don't be afraid to ask for technical help from a variety of sources, but be nice to the people who help. Their job is hard and you'll need them again. Don't blame them for the problems.
   
6. There are many more technical help suggestions throughout this course site. Read the directions! It will make a difference. Print the directions that you think might be helpful if you encounter problems.
   
7. Finally, accept that problems are going to occur. Computers are complex and complex things break in interesting ways. If you keep a level head and learn from the experience, you'll survive and be better prepared the next time problems occur.

For good results, AND a better grade, keep the following in mind:

• Read any prompts carefully. A prompt is the assignment to which you are responding. In some cases, the prompt will be posted as the start of a thread in the discussion forum. Read the prompt carefully. Make sure that you understand everything that it requires before you start to respond. If you have questions, ask for a clarification from your instructor, or at least let others know what you are unsure about in your posting.
  
  
• Post something that shows thought. One of the great things about discussion forum communication is that you can think before you respond. Discussion forum prompts are almost always open-ended questions, so even if it seems that the assignment only needs a short answer, assume that you should provide some explanation or narrative about that answer.
  
  
• Include examples and supportive arguments, not just opinions. Discussion forums are not just a place to put opinions and feelings. You should also include specific examples, statistics, quotes, and other support materials. On the other hand, you may be encouraged to include your opinions too.
  
  
• Cite your sources. It's OK if you borrow ideas from your readings or conversations, but you should attribute these ideas to their source. You can give the official citation of reading material (online or in print) or simply attribute ideas from your classmates. For instance, "In her posting, Shelly said ... That made me wonder about ..."
  
  
• Post your response early in the assignment period. If you wait until the assignment due date, others will not have a chance to respond to what you have said. Your instructor will not have as much time to notice or think about your posting, and a lower score may result. Post your first message early in the assignment period, then return later and respond to others. You'll get more out of the experience and get a better grade.

NO FLAMING and NO SHOUTING (all caps), no vulgarity, and no personal attackes are allowed in the discussion forums. Be aware of the tone in your writing and never attack someone personally. The forums will be moderated with a ONE warning rule. If you are asked to curtail your remarks, but do not, you will incur the penalties associated with "disrupting the classroom" which could range from a zero on the assignment to being expelled from the course. An excellent resource to read about the "rules of the road" is The Core Rules of Nettiquette.
 

It's called a discussion forum because people are actually supposed to discuss things! Clever, huh? That means it will only be useful if you respond to others, not just post your own messages. You will not get the best results or grades from this kind of communication if you don't react to your classmates.

• Don't agree with everything.
  "Good idea!," "I agree," or "I think the same thing" are not worthwhile responses. They don't add to the conversation. If you do agree with the poster, then try to add another example or clarify the point more. It's OK to have a different opinion. On the other hand...
  
  
• Don't disagree with everything.
  You won't impress anyone by being critical of every posting that is made. Try to be generous in interpreting others. Ask clarifying questions if you are not sure you understand.
  
  
• Search for balanced replies.
  When you respond to others, try to include both positives and negatives about what they have said. Tell them what you like about their ideas or compliment their intentions. Then let them know what part of their response they should consider giving more thought or looking at again.
  
  
• Replies should be useful.
  A good reply will give everyone following along more to think about. If it is critical, the critique will be specific, clear, and point toward possible improvements. Often, asking more questions is the best sort of reply. A good reply will encourage the poster to respond again. Hopefully, they will look forward to more interactions with you in the future.
  
  
• Attack arguments, but don't attack people.
  Don't get personal in a discussion forum. At the worst, be generous and assume that it is the person's idea that you don't like, not the person. Ad hominem attacks (against the person) will lose friends and participation points for you. So will racist, sexist, ageist, and other bigoted comments as well as profanity and obscenity. Let's stay civil!
  
  
• If you encounter difficulties or the argument gets too hot, let your instructor know.
  Your instructor will be checking the forum regularly, but may miss a critical posting. If someone posts something that upsets you, talk to your instructor about it. In some cases, he or she might help clear up misunderstandings, or if necessary, delete an offensive message.

• Keep it simple.
  Readers sort through email quickly, so keep your messages simple. Try not to include more than one major subject per email. If you have several topics to discuss, break them into several messages. Otherwise, the last part of your message may get lost between the scrollbars.
  
  
• Write descriptive subject lines.
  Some people receive so much email that they begin to delete some messages without viewing them. To avoid this fate, make sure your subject lines are descriptive.
  
  
• Give the reader some context to avoid misunderstandings.
  Email is infamous for causing misunderstandings. The receiver may not understand that the sender is joking, serious, or just tired. Advice can sound preachy and minor frustrations like major anger. This is because the context of body language, tone, and setting are lost online. Add them back in to avoid problems by describing your mood at the start of a message and stating what result you hope to get from the communication.
  
  
• Use writing tricks like "emoticons," acronyms, and extra punctuation only if allowed by your instructor! If used, use them judiciously.
  Each instructor will have their own guidelines when posting to forums and other online activities. To earn the highest credit for writing assignments you must follow their instructions and guidelines regarding the use of emoticons, "text" language, etc. Online communication has spawned a whole school of trick you can use to look extra clever (an "emoticon") and get your message across to listeners. IMHO (in my humble opinion), these are worth learning because they enhance communication. *However* don't OVERDO it!!! You'll end up looking like a big clown <%-) LOLAMOS (Laughing out loud at my own stupidity) and NOBODY $#&&@!!! will take you seriously .
  
  
• Don't use all caps. There are better ways to emphasize.
  ONLINE, THIS IS SHOUTING. DON'T SEND MESSAGES THIS WAY UNLESS YOU ARE ANGRY. Instead, if you want to emphasize, *try something like this*. You can make the Big Point in more subtle ways.
  
  
• Reread your message before you send it.
  This is especially true if you are sending any sensitive content. Try to read the message from the point of view of your intended receiver and see if there is anything they won't understand. Or even better...
  
  
• Compose your message in a word processor, save it, then copy and paste it into the message box.
  This will give you a chance to review the content carefully and even better, spell check! If the message is important, or if you think you might not be able to remember what you wrote, save it or print it as well. You'll have an archive of messages that you can scan for reminders or re-use as the basis of other messages.
  
  
• Remove most of the pronouns.
  Have you ever received a message such as "I will check it out and let you know before we respond." Who is I? What is it? Is "you" one person or many? Are you included in "we" or is this somebody else? Pronouns which don't refer clearly to their antecedents are a big problem in online communication; weed them out of your writing.
  
  
• In Moodle, you will have only 30 minutes to edit any Discussion Forum. After that time you will be unable to change what you stated in THAT forum. If you need to clarify anything, simply Add a New Discussion unless the instructor allows only one post.

Your surroundings will affect the learning process. This list includes tips that will help you be more aware of your surroundings when you sit down to work in your course.

• Notice how the light in the room hits your computer screen, whether there is too much or insufficient light. Lighting will affect your attention.
  
  
• It’s easy to become distracted by a “You have mail!” notice that keeps popping up on your screen. Disable it.
  
  
• Some learners say that music enhances their ability to concentrate, while others find music distracting. If noise from an adjoining area bothers you, wear earphones, or ask the other party to lower the volume.
  
  
• Take care with your diet. You will probably find that carbohydrate makes you sleepy, while protein provides for a slow and steady release of energy. Drink adequate fluids, especially water—it’s easy for time to pass quickly without ingesting any fluids.
  
  
• Take a stretch break every hour or so, especially if you are prone to circulation or back problems. Human beings weren’t made for sitting, but for standing!
  
  
• Make sure that your chair fits you properly. Maintain right angles at your hip and knee joints, and keep both feet flat on the floor. Sit upright with your shoulders back. If you slump, you will become fatigued more quickly.
  
  
• Some people find that aroma affects learning. You might try a scented candle, or a dab of vanilla on a nearby light bulb. However, if that freshly baked apple pie tears you away from your studies, reconsider!

Before the Test

Never attempt to complete a test using a hotspot or low bandwidth Internet connection. Locate a secure and reliable connection before beginning your test.

Your instructor will let you know when you can access the test, although this notification may come early in the form of a schedule or suddenly through the form of an announcement. Do not enter a test site before you are ready, as many online tests are set to only allow you to access the test once for a score.

If your test is being remotely proctored, make sure you follow the instructions provided explicitly. 

You must also turn off a pop-up blocker program if you are using one before taking a quiz or be sure that your pop-up blocker permits access to all the pages in the course. If you are using special Toolbars such as Google or Yahoo Toolbars, you may need to disable the pop-up blocker there as well. To disable or modify your pop-up blocker, please read How to Allow Pop-ups from Specific Websites.

Before you take the test, review the objectives for the module you will be tested on. Make sure you have mastered them before your assessment. Read any study guides your instructor has provided, and re-read your notes and documents as necessary.

Mail the instructor any questions you may have about what will be on the test or the format of the test. Tests may include multiple choice, true/false, matching, ordering, short answer, and essay questions.

Occasionally your instructor may require a face-to-face PROCTORED exam. They will let you know in time to make those arrangements.  

During the Test

Find a time to take the test in which you will be free of interruptions.

Don't cheat. Remember taking shortcuts in education deprive you of the education for which you are paying. If that isn't enough to stop you, consider there are many subtle ways you might be caught. All of the honor codes of your institution apply, and that may lead to consequences like failed courses and even expulsion.

Sometimes online tests will be "open book," but if your instructor does not explicitly tell you that you can use other people or materials when taking the test, then they are off limits. If you have questions about this, then ask via email in advance - a misunderstanding could result in a poor grade, and in this case asking beforehand is wisdom!

When you first access the test, read the directions carefully. Find out if there is a time limit, can you return to unanswered questions, and other important details you must know to be successful.

Don't close the window of the test for any reason unless the test specifically states that it can be saved and returned to later. This option will be noted in the test description or instructions. If you are using a Dial-up connection, or an AOL server, make sure you download a free program called "Stay Alive" which should keep you from getting disconnected due to "apparent" inactivity while taking quizzes. Download the program FREE from this url: http://www.stayaliveonline.com/ . If something goes wrong, send email to your instructor immediately documenting the exact problem and asking them how you should proceed.

When you have marked all your answers, read them once more before submitting. Make sure you haven't accidentally changed your response to a question or made bad typographic mistakes. When you are satisfied with the result (or have done the best you can) make sure you remember to finish by clicking the "Save and Submit for marking" button.

After the Test

After you submit, you may receive a score for all the items the software could correct, although essay questions and most short answer questions will have to be graded by your instructor. You may also receive feedback on the test. Pay attention to this feedback, and use it as a way to learn the answers to the questions you missed. Your grade will be posted in the gradebook immediately unless the entire quiz was essay or short answer.  HOWEVER, grades and feedback may be reserved until after the test closes.  Your instructor will provide details on how this may be reviewed.

If you found errors in the test, send your instructor a message immediately. Let him or her know if some questions were unclear. This will allow him or her to adjust your grade if needed or fix the test for other students. He or she may even reward you for your watchfulness!

If you encountered any technical issues, make sure to notify your instructor by phone immediately.

To check your grades, select Settings, (on the left side of the page) Grades. 

Your instructor may take varying amounts of time to post grades. If your grade is not posted within a week of turning it in, then send a message asking for clarification.

The Gradebook should show you a percentage grade for individual "categories" and possibly a total course grade. Look at your syllabus to understand how each category is weighted. Generally work that is not completed or graded will not calculate into that percentage. However, if your grades look surprisingly low, contact the instructor to see if work not graded or completed is being averaged into your grade - it could make a BIG difference in your actual grade for the course.

Your instructor is always the first point of contact if you have any question about grades.

Library resources are available to all students, at anytime, wherever you have internet access.  For tutorials and more information about library services visit the library home page or call the reference desk at 910-275-6330.

In an effort to provide assistance to students, JSCC's help desk is located in the Academic Support Center, in the Hoffler building room 105.  Students may drop in, call or email for help. When contacting these support services students should be prepared to provide their full name and JSCC student ID.

• Phone: 910-275-6400
• Email: justasktechsupport@jamessprunt.edu

JSCC students are exposed to a variety of technology in the classroom and as a part of the admissions and registration process. Some of these services include student email, WebAdvisor, and Moodle.

• Student Email - All curriculum students are provided a JSCC email that is used by the College to send pertinant information. Students are strongly encouraged to check this email weekly.
• Self Service- Students will use Self Service to: review their class schedule and transcripts, register for classes, contact instructors, and check financial aid status. Each student has a unique username and password which should be kept confidential. 
• Moodle - Moodle is a course management system used by many JSCC faculty to post course content in an online format. Students may be required to access course materials on Moodle for their courses and if any student enrolls in a hybrid or online course these courses will be accessed through Moodle. Each student has a unique username and password which should be kept confidential.
• Course Specific Websites - Instructors may require students to access secure websites to complete course work, such as online workbooks, quizzes, etc. These websites are often a part of an electronic textbook. Instructors will provide students with specific information and support  of how to access this material.  All technical questions regarding these resouces should be directed to your instructor.
• S.A.S. (Spartan Alert System) - Every student is registered with their JSCC email address to receive alerts sent from the College.  These include emergency alerts, weather closings, and other announcements.  Students may register their cell phone and home phones to receive voice and text messages in addition to the emails.
• FASFA - students needing assistance to complete online financial aid application should contact the Financial Aid department at 910-275-3679 or visit their office in the Strickland building.